A significant step towards cashless convenience in Ethiopia has been taken with the launch of a new digital payment service by Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia PLC’s M-Pesa, which enables drivers to pay for fuel using their mobile phones.
This development is coming after Oromia Bank announced a similar initiative on Saturday.
The service, which was introduced on Wednesday at the Bole Total Gas Station in Addis Ababa, is anticipated to expand to 2,000 gas stations nationwide in the upcoming weeks.
Customers can now pay for fuel quickly and securely by just entering their Safaricom number and using their PIN to confirm the payment after receiving a text message.
Safaricom’s investment in Ethiopia’s digital future
This launch, which goes beyond simple convenience, demonstrates Safaricom’s ongoing investment in Ethiopia’s digital future. It occurs while the business is actively lobbying lawmakers to support a more competitive and equitable telecom landscape.
Members of the House of Representatives were invited to Safaricom’s headquarters last year. The company reaffirmed its demand for regulatory changes that promote equal opportunity in the industry during the visit.
Concerned about policies that currently favour incumbents and restrict the growth potential of new entrants, the company called for a shift to transparent, inclusive platforms that empower banks, fintechs, telecom operators, and ultimately consumers.
The Wednesday’s launch represents a concrete result of Safaricom’s overarching goal to increase access to digital services and update Ethiopia’s payment systems.
Oromia bank’s digitisation of fuel transactions
In a related development, Oromia Bank announced on Saturday the introduction of a system that integrates its Milky Digital Financing application with the Fuel Aggregator System of Ethiopia’s Ministry of Transport and Logistics, aimed at improving digital fuel transactions.
The bank claims to be the first to implement a system that simplifies fuel payments and allows customers to access loans even without funds in their accounts.
Ethiopian consumers’ interactions with fuel payments are expected to change as a result of this initiative. This innovative solution is poised to enhance the customer experience and contribute to Ethiopia’s move towards a cashless economy.